CondiVisa - Theatres in Motion along the Aqueduct

A theatrical bridge between Quarticciolo and Tor Pignattara

CondiVisa - Theatres in Motion along the Aqueduct is a project of creative exchange and sharing between two artistic hubs in Rome's 5th Municipality: the Teatro Biblioteca Quarticciolo, a public space within the Teatri in Comune network of Rome Capital, and Fortezza Est, an independent theatre in Tor Pignattara. The name itself reflects the core concept: two venues that "share" (con-dividono) their audience, artists, and languages along the axis of the aqueduct that crosses this eastern sector of the Capital, in the Metropolitan City of Rome, Lazio.

The festival is not a showcase for big names, but a living space for experimentation designed to give voice to young companies and original scripts. Each evening is accompanied by an artist talk, allowing the local audience to engage with the creative process rather than just watching from the sidelines.

Artistic direction and context

The Teatro Biblioteca Quarticciolo, artistically directed by Antonino Pirillo and Giorgio Andriani, has long been one of the most solid cultural pillars of the Roman suburbs: a theatre hall and municipal library under one roof, located in a 1940s social housing district that has used culture as a concrete lever for social transformation. Fortezza Est, for its part, brings its own dedication to new dramaturgy and research into contemporary languages.

This encounter results in a program that alternates between satire, reinterpretations of the repertoire, narrative theatre, and collective works, with a constant focus on current themes: precarious work, gender identity, the relationship with social media, and urban loneliness.

How the festival works

• Compact format: four or five shows concentrated over a few days, usually from Thursday to Sunday.
• Schedule: evening performances at 8:30 PM on weekdays and Saturdays, with Sunday afternoon matinées at 5:00 PM.
• Artist talks: after each show, conversations with the artists are held, often moderated by the participatory criticism project «Staffetta critica».
• Premieres and debuts: many of the works presented are new productions or revivals of shows awarded in off-circuits and fringe festivals.

The festival over time

The festival debuted in the autumn of 2022 with four evenings dedicated to contemporary languages, and returned in 2023 between September and October with titles such as «Mi manca Van Gogh» by Francesca Astrei, «Tutte le persone vive» by Rosalinda Conti, and «F.O.M.O. (Fear of Missing Out)» by Francesca Lombardo. In 2026, CondiVisa returned in the spring, moving to May and effectively closing the theatre season with four titles plus a final event at the end of the month.

Why it's worth attending

Those looking for the most institutional Roman theatre will find grand productions elsewhere; however, those who want to understand where the Capital's contemporary scene is truly moving should hop on a tram or bus and reach Quarticciolo. Tickets are affordable, the venue is intimate, and the opportunity to speak with the authors at the end of the evening is an integral part of the experience. It is also a chance to discover a neighbourhood that has become one of the most interesting social and cultural laboratories in East Rome in recent years.

The neighbourhood around the theatre

Quarticciolo is located between Via Prenestina and Viale Palmiro Togliatti, just minutes from the Parco degli Acquedotti and the historic suburbs celebrated in 20th-century cinema and literature. An evening at CondiVisa can easily be combined with a walk among the rationalist porticoes of the district or a gastronomic stop in nearby Tor Pignattara and Centocelle, now among the most multicultural areas of the city.